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Kiehl's vs Medik8

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Kiehl's and Medik8 are established skincare brands offering moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more. Kiehl's features key ingredients like glycerin and squalane, while the British brand builds its products around hyaluronic acid. Both suits dry skin and sensitive skin best. The American brand is known for nourishing formulations that increase hydration, restore epidermal barrier function, counteract oxidative stress, and stimulate fibroblast migration, whereas the newer brand utilizes hyaluronic acid to lengthen the toxin wrinkle effect duration.

Kiehl's is an American skincare brand founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular Kiehl's and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Kiehl's vs Medik8 products

People Say

Kiehl'sMedik8
  • Gentle on Sensitive Skin Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Deep Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “savior for dry patches — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Improves Skin Barrier and Texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Absorbs quickly — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
  • Fades Dark Spots and Brightens Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “pigmentation lightened slightly — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • No White Cast and Glowing Finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “doubles as moisturizer — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “Leaves skin looking glass-like and radiant — Medik8 Press & Glow”
    • “brightens skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
  • High Price Point and Poor Value Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “very expensive for amount — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “hefty price tag — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Ineffective or Slow Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Takes months to see — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
  • Greasy or Oily Residue Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “too oily for my combination skin — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Oily texture unpleasant — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “too oily — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”

Kiehl's vs Medik8 routines for dry skin

Buy Medik8 routine · A$283.59 · 97% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · A$685.63 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Kiehl's vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

Buy Medik8 routine · A$409.86 · 94% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · A$767.92 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

Buy Medik8 routine · A$444.44 · 93% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · A$693.88 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Medik8: which is better?

Both Kiehl's and Medik8 offer great options, but Medik8 does better for fading dark spots, improving skin texture, and being gentle on sensitive skin, while Kiehl's excels in deep hydration and lightweight textures. Lovi rates the routine fit for both brands as Superior across all skin types.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Medik8?

Medik8 is generally better for fading dark spots, improving skin barrier and texture, and being gentle on sensitive skin, while Kiehl's is better for deep hydration and providing a lightweight, non-greasy texture. Both brands share a high price point.

Kiehl's or Medik8 for dry skin?

Both brands offer a Superior routine fit for dry skin, with Medik8 standing out for deep hydration and plumping while Kiehl's is noted for lightweight and non-greasy moisturizers. Hyaluronic acid helps provide moisture benefits for dry skin types.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

Kiehl's or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse has a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, oily acne-prone skin, and skin with dark spots, whereas Kiehl's Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash and Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser have a Superior fit for oily and oily acne-prone skin. Both brands offer cleansers that feature well-rated purifying effects, though reviewers note Medik8 tends to be gentler on sensitive skin.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Medik8?

Both Kiehl's and Medik8 are frequently noted by reviewers for having a high price point. The products on this page for both brands share this similar drawback.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Kiehl's or Medik8?

Kiehl's has more fragrance-free products on this page than Medik8, with 26 out of 28 products listing no fragrance compared to Medik8's 11 out of 12.

Which brand is owned by L'Oréal S.A. versus L'Oréal Groupe?

Kiehl's is owned by L'Oréal S.A., whereas Medik8 is owned by L'Oréal Groupe.

Which brand does better for fading dark spots and brightening?

Medik8 does better for fading dark spots and brightening than Kiehl's. Medik8 features specialized peptide and vitamin serums that help target uneven pigmentation, while Kiehl's relies on a broader range of vitamin C and exfoliating treatments.

Kiehl's or Medik8 for oily skin?

Medik8 has a Superior routine fit for oily skin, whereas Kiehl's routine fit is High. Both brands offer products that help with oily skin, but Medik8 achieves a higher overall fit level on this page.

Kiehl's or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Both Kiehl's and Medik8 offer great moisturizers, with Kiehl's providing High deep hydration and Medik8 achieving a Superior routine fit for dry skin. Kiehl's features lightweight formulas containing ingredients like glycerin and squalane, while Medik8 focuses on intense hydration with hyaluronic acid.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Kiehl's or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and Medik8 offer products well-suited for sensitive skin, but Medik8 does better for gentle care while Kiehl's provides high routine fit. Medik8 features gentle and non-irritating serums, whereas Kiehl's is noted for lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and deep hydration.

Kiehl's or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

Both Kiehl's and Medik8 offer products with a Superior or High Lovi fit level for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Kiehl's provides lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers, while Medik8 is often mentioned as gentle and non-irritating.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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